2024 Ferrari 296 GTB Expert Review
Reviewed by Alex Leanse
The 296 GTB is the next step in Ferrari's electrified transition . This mid-engine supercar uses a hybrid powertrain to deliver incredible performance. Introduced for 2023, the 296 GTB is offered as a coupe or convertible, and both are available with the track-focused Assetto Fiorano package. Rivals to the Ferrari 296 GTB include the McLaren Artura, Maserati MC20, and Chevrolet Corvette.
What We Think
With the 296 GTB, Ferrari shows how downsized engines and electrification do nothing to compromise—and rather, enhance—its penchant for exotic performance.
Despite its relatively small V-6 engine, the 296 GTB delivers massive power and record-breaking speed—laying down test numbers that rival the legendary LaFerrari. On the road, the car's highly adjustable drive modes and electronic controls add confidence. A soundtrack reminiscent of engines with twice as many cylinders plays all the while.
Driving it like a normal car reveals refinement issues with the hybrid powertrain's integration and regenerative braking tuning. Ferrari's clumsy infotainment limits ease of use, too. In Assetto Fiorano spec the 296 GTB is surprisingly comfortable, but the car is already so high performance that the package seems superfluous.
Other supercars—and other Ferrari models—may make better daily drivers than the 296 GTB, but this Ferrari is truly astounding in high-performance situations. The only trouble is finding enough pavement for it to show all it's capable of.
Is the 296 GTB a Hybrid?
If any automaker can prove that electrification benefits performance, it's Ferrari. Just see the 296 GTB: It combines a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with an electric motor and 7.5-kWh battery to produce 818 hp. All that power goes through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the rear wheels.
Even though it's a hybrid, the 296 GTB doesn't get great fuel economy. It's rated at 15/21 mpg city/highway, worse even than the non-hybrid, V-8-powered Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which gets 16/24 mpg. However, the 296 GTB is a plug-in hybrid, which gives it some all-electric driving range—an entire 7 miles' worth, according to the EPA.
Ferrari 296 GTB 0-60 MPH Time
In MotorTrend testing, a 296 GTB Assetto Fiorano launched from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds. It ran the quarter mile in 9.6 seconds at 149.6 mph. Both numbers are records for an RWD car; everything else that comes close is AWD.
Mid-Engine Ferrari Convertible: 296 GTS
A single letter makes a big difference for the convertible version of the 296 GTB. Called the 296 GTS, it features a hardtop roof panel that folds away above the engine bay in just 14 seconds and can operate at speeds up to 28 mph. Ferrari worked to make the V-6 audible by equipping a roll-down rear window and revising ducting that carries sound from the engine bay to the cabin. The Assetto Fiorano track package can be equipped on the 296 GTS, as well.
What Is Assetto Fiorano?
Named after Ferrari's home test track, the available Assetto Fiorano package makes the 296 GTB even more sporty. Suspension hardware from the engineering experts at Multimatic improves its handling poise, along with lightweighting brought on by its carbon-fiber wheels, door panels, and Lexan rear window. Aerodynamic revisions give the 296 GTB Assetto Fiorano nearly 800 pounds of downforce at 155 mph. An available tapering stripe paint scheme distinguishes Assetto Fiorano cars from "regular" 296 GTB models.
How Much Is the Ferrari 296 GTB and 296 GTS?
Pricing for the 2024 Ferrari 296 GTB starts at about $336,000. Cutting the roof off raises the price; the 2024 Ferrari 296 GTS starts at nearly $370,000. Opt for the Assetto Fiorano pack, and the sticker price will rise by approximately $42,000. Ferrari's Tailor Made personalization program offers near-endless ways to increase the 296 GTB's price with special paints, trims, and details.
